Season of Wonder - Contemporary Romance

Goodreads:  Season of Wonder (Haven Point #9) by RaeAnne Thayne

Rating: Good

Source: Blog Tour 

Description:  Dani Capelli seized a chance to start over in a small town with her daughters. Now, facing her first Christmas in Haven Point, she wonders if leaving New York was a mistake. Dani loves working alongside veterinarian Dr. Morales, but her two children aren’t adjusting to small-town life. And then there’s Dr. Morales’s son, Ruben—Dani’s next-door neighbor. Gorgeous, muscled and dependable, the deputy sheriff is everything she secretly craves and can’t bear to risk loving…and losing.

Ruben never pictured himself falling for a big-city woman like Dani. But beneath her prickly facade, she’s caring and softhearted and she needs all the love and protection he can give. When Dani’s teenage daughter starts acting out, Ruben draws on family traditions to show the girls just how magical a Haven Point Christmas can be. But can he convince Dani that she’s found a home for the holidays—and forever—in his arms?

Genre: Romance - Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book:  I love RaeAnne Thayne's Christmas books and this may just be the prettiest Christmas cover I've ever seen!

My Impression:  This was everything I expect from a RaeAnne Thayne Christmas romance.  It's sweet and heartwarming, poignant and hopeful all with the perfect bit of Christmas cheer that never gets over the top.  The community of Haven Point is just so kind and open and truly special.

I loved Ruben.  His hesitation for getting involved with a woman with children is really for the best of motivations.  He wants to settle down, he wants a family, and he wants to be happy.  He's close to his family and he's involved with his community.  It's hard not to like him - especially when he gets involved with Silver and more importantly - Silver's mother Dani.

Dani is in a tough spot.  She's struggling to keep everything together and keep her girls happy.  I really felt for her as she tried to do the right thing for Silver and for Mia.  I think anyone who has been a teenage girl can relate to Silver's actions even when I felt like she needed a good shaking.  Mia was so adorable and sweet and so vulnerable.  Her past makes for  a lot of baggage and she's incredibly strong.  I'm very rarely a fan of really prickly characters but her guardedness and reserve felt very natural to her personality.

I did like how her relationship with Ruben developed.  Once again it just fit the characters and I don't really see how it could have happened any other way.  It is a slow burn but once again for these characters there really was just no other option.  I really loved all the characters and really felt connected to them from page one.  There was a bit of a repetitive feel that really kept this from being a standout read.  I think you'll come across this kind of story in a number of Christmas romances though of course Thayne's version is one of the most delightful!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I never miss a book by this author!

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you love romances that focus on emotional connections that are full of really relatable characters then you need to be reading Thayne!  This is a lovely Christmas read and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *